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Economic Development
Dominant Indistries include cropping, grazing, opal mining and tourism. Walgett Shire is renowned for quality: chick peas, cotton, beef, meat sheep, wool, wheat and black opal. Housing Prices in Walgett range from $70,000 to $160,000 for a three bedroom home. The average rental being a three bedroom home ranges from $150 - $200 per week. The AdValorem rate levied within the Shire for the year 2007/2008 is 2.18 cents in the dollar with the property value set by the Valuer General with the minimum payable being $360-00. Agriculture - Published: 15 Jan 2009Walgett Shire produces a range of agricultural products more .. Mining - Published: 15 Jan 2009 Black Opal mIning at Lightning Ridge more .. Tourism - Published: 15 Jan 2009 The Tourism industry is an integral part of Walgett Shire's economy. more .. Service Industries - Published: 15 Jan 2009 Retail & Commercial Busienss Services Health & Community Serivces
Education more ..
Major sectors for employment are mining argiculture, community services, retail, financial and business services, public administration and communications. both professional staff and tradespeople who enjoy a rural lifestyle will fin employment opportunities throughout the Shire. Walgett is located on the Castlereagh Highway on the north south route connecting Sydney and Brisbane. A daily XPT service is provided from Sydney t Dubbo, from there passengers are transported by a road coach that travels daily to Lightnign Ridge. A wide range of transport companies serve the township of Walgett with freight being forwarded by local contractors. The biggest above ground grain silos in the Southern Hemisphere are situated approximatley 3kms out of Walgett. The 1998 harvest saw 198,530 tonnes of grain being received at the site from which it is transported primarily by train. Harvest time brings an influx of contract harvstors into the Shire who also contribute to the economy of the town. Walgett, Lightning Ridge and Collarenebri have airstrips provided by Walgett Shire Council and regulated by CASAA. Burren Junction has an Authorised Landing Area. The AirLink services previously provided ceased in December 2008, but Charter flights are available and private aircraft make good use of the available facilities. Agricultural industries produce wheat, wool, cotton and sheep meat. Farmers and graziers are looking to diversify and value-add to their produce. Most towns and villages are connected by bitumen roads which allos fr easy transport of produce to major centres. The requirements of the farming, grazing and opal mining sectors provide business for several machinery suppliers and steel fabrication works. Land prices and rates are low compared with the more urbanised areas of the state and unskilled labour is plentiful. The retail sector of Lightning Ridge relies on opal based tourism. All towns and villages in the Shire have at least one grocery shop or supermarket to supply the needs of the community. Retailers appreciate the business gained from tourists in the Shire and many entrepreneurial opportunties exist. Walgett Shire offers a friendly relaxed lifestyle and therwe are many sporting and recreational pursuits available. Education throughout the Shire is provided by 1 secondary school, two central schools, seven primary/infants schools seven preschools and one childrens mobile. Both Walgett Public School and High School have distance education units to assist with education for rural and isolated families. Post secondary education is offered by the Western Institute of TAFE, Walgett Campus. A long day care centre has recently started.
Walgett District Hospital has a modern 20 acute bed hospital, an eight bed geriatric unit and three high dependancy beds. The hospital has general medical, surgical, paediatrics, emergenhcy obstetrics, palliative care and aged care. There are Multi Purpose Health Serivces in both Lightning Ridge and Collarenebri. Health staff are supported by a range of health professionals from Government and Nongovernment services. Walgett also has a private medical centre and the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service which provides services in; Public Health, Midwifery, Dentistry, Ears, Eyes, Mental Health, Podiatry, Family Health, Sexual Health, Womens and Mens health, Drugs and Alcohol and counselling services. more ..
This road network provides the potential for expansion of the tourism and freight industries within the Shire, It also ensures local buisnesses easy access to Australias major markets and allows industry to tap into cost effective transport networks for product sourcing and domestic and export distribution. B-double & road train transport routes are available on all major roads between all the Shires towns. Internally the Shire has an extensive sealed regional and local road network. Regional airports offering regular passenger services are located at Moree and Dubbo. A passenger bus service (which links with the regional rail network) is operated by Countrylink. Services from Walgett Shire run on a daily basis to Dubbo and Sydney. While private company Kynoch Coaches operate a service from lightning Ridge to Toowoomba and Brisbane every second day. The Walgett Shire Council cooprdinates weekly waste collection services within the Shire with tips located in Walgett, Lightning Ridge and Collarenebri. It is recommended that businesses contact the council directly to discuss their individual requirements. Electricity within the Shire for both domestic and commercial uses is supplied by Country Energy. Supply is reliable and the network is capable of meeting the demands of most busiensses. Three phase power is readily available in and around the Shires major industrial precincts.
The Shire is served by three commercial television stations (Prime, Network 10 and Win TV) as well as SBS and ABC.Full Mobile telecommunications coverage exists with Telstra Next G. Optus is also established in the area. Telstra Countrywide is the major provider of fixed communications infrastructure. more ..
These include:
Libraries - Walgett Shire has ap ublic library located in Walgett and Lightning Ridge and deposit stations at Burren Junction, carinda and Collarenebri. A number of programs are offered at our libraries including holiday programs, storytime, travelling exhibitions and Waste to Art. more ..
Primary Education Secondary Education Distance Education
Advanced Education more ..
Dental Services Aged Care
Persons with Disabilities more ..
The first step a business needs to take is to determine whether their preferred location for the signposting would be situated on a state controlled or locally controlled road. Generally state roads correspond to the primary network and include all "highways" and many other major classified roads. Local governments have delegated responsibility for the installation of signs on regional roads (the rest of the classified road network) and are wholly responsible for local roads. more ..
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© 2008 Walgett Shire Council |
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